Picnic tablecloth-inspired dye job is wild and wonderful

Hair colorist Ursula Goff created a nearly spot-on rendition of plaid fabric for one of her clients. (Photo: Instagram/Ursula Goff)

If you find yourself scrolling through social media for hair color inspiration, you’ve probably come across Ursula Goff’s work. The Kansas-based colorist is not the type of stylist who posts boring photos of a blonde going blonder, but instead, everything from plaid to crystal-colored hair looks.

She recently shared a photo on Instagram of one of her clients rocking custom clip-in extensions inspired by a gingham picnic tablecloth. “This is awesome,” one person shared under the vibrant photo. “So glad it’s getting shared and I came across it, freaking stunning.”

The 35-year-old licensed colorist isn’t new to adding amazing hues to hair. In fact, Goff tells Yahoo Lifestyle, she has been coloring her and her friends’ hair since she was 13. Years later, she decided to take her talents to the next level. She explains, “I attended a community college cosmetology program after dropping out of art school, so I have a strong art and painting background.”

After browsing through all the out-of-the-box color sessions Goff shares on her Instagram feed, one can’t help but wonder where she draws inspiration from. “Sometimes I just see a pretty photo or take a photo of something pretty and set it aside for later,” she says. “Other times, while I am consulting with clients, we come across inspiration photos and concepts while we work out what they want. Then, we work from there. Sometimes it’s something that’s more in my head than anything, and I might do a quick sketch to demonstrate my idea.”

Goff does admit to having her share of hair-color mishaps in the past, especially early on in her career. Now, she’s a pro and can easily fix subtle mistakes or improvise. “I’ve also gotten good at turning mistakes into new ideas, so I run with that a lot too,” she says.

On average, most of her clients who require double- or triple-process coloring on their hair will sit for about four to six hours, but more detailed projects can take up to 10 hours for maximum results, allowing Goff usually to take only one color client a day.

“Almost all of my clients tell me to do whatever I want,” Goff says. “Occasionally, they might say something like, ‘I’ve been liking pink lately, so just make sure there’s some pink in it,’ or something along those lines. But for the most part, I get a lot of creative freedom to do whatever. I do talk with my clients to make sure they’re on board with whatever I’m thinking, and if they have reservations, I might modify the design or concept until they are confident with it. But for the most part, they really trust me, and I appreciate that so much.”

Goff’s work has not come without criticism, and she shared that other colorists will often say that her work looks like too much work. However, she doesn’t think of it this way and finds the initial drawing and painting process quite pleasurable. “When it’s done, it’s done,” she says. “I approach hair the same way. Yes, it can take time and work, but I enjoy the process, as it is just as satisfying as the outcome.”

We couldn’t help but ask what Goff is thinking to try next, and she told us that she’s really been into the lovely golds, oranges, teals, and blues seen in Yellowstone hot springs. “I have some ideas regarding light,” she says. “I’ve been playing around with prism concepts lately, but I really want to expand on that and try to incorporate other ways that we perceive light, especially with regards to shape and focal points. I know that sounds very vague, but you’ll know what I mean once you see it.”

While we have to wait to see what masterpiece Goff will come up with next, sit back and prepare to be amazed by some of the most stunning looks she’s created so far.